Welsh Government plans changes to health and social care

By Hollie Ewers on 11 June 2018 Wales Health and social care

A new report by the Welsh Government entitled A healthier Wales: our plan for health and social care proposes long-term changes to the way NHS and social care in Wales is organised in the future.

The proposals include less reliance on hospitals and more care closer to home, with support and treatment available across a range of community-based settings.

This will include maternity services. The changes will begin immediately, with a £100m transformation fund to support the implementation of the plan.

The plan is a response to the parliamentary review report, which described the increasing demands and new challenges that face the NHS and social care – an ageing population, lifestyle changes, public expectations and new and emerging medical technologies.

RCM director for Wales Helen Rogers said: ‘The RCM fully supports the aim to move maternity care from a hospital-based setting back into the community. In Wales, our goal is to have 45% of women starting their labour outside of an obstetric unit.  

‘Also, the recognition within this report that a focus on health, wellbeing and prevention to help reduce health inequalities and improving population health outcomes should begin from pre-birth and during the first 1000 days of a child’s life is particularly welcome.  

‘It’s also vital that we value, not only midwives and MSWs, but all healthcare professionals who deliver services in Wales and the RCM is currently working with Welsh Government to develop a new vision for maternity services.  

Helen said that the RCM looks forward to working with the government and with decision makers at regional and local level to ensure that maternity services are at the heart of the new plan for Wales.

Read the full report here.